Mombasa Governor, Ali Hassan Joho, has told Jubilee administration he is able to provide security for himself – and that the withdrawal of his security (which has since been reinstated), does not shake him – even a bit.

Speaking at Bomas of Kenya during the maiden quest for opposition unity, the governor said he drove himself to Nairobi, without security detail provided to him by government – and that he was happy to do so.

“I am the happiest man on earth since I came back to the country from Ghana. I drove myself to Nairobi and I am going to drive myself home. I am telling Jubilee that I do not need protection by government. If I was killed today, as a Muslim, I would be buried on the same day – and what I stood for will remain,” said Joho.

“Some sections wanted me to bow down to the current administration and praise them for projects that were commissioned by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. I did not, and cannot.”

Joho further faulted government for corruption levels in the country, which he said have sky-rocketed since Jubilee took over power in 2013.

Police on Tuesday, January 10 announced that bodyguards for Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi were reinstated after re-organisation following concerns that they had more than 15 officers attached to them.

The withdrawal of their security detail last Friday emanated from a memo sent from the police headquarters, directing officers and vehicles to desist from escorting and clearing roads for county government officers.

In the memo signed by Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police, King’ori Mwangi, officers providing escort and chase cars to the officials were warned that they would face disciplinary action.

He further ordered county and regional commanders to initiate disciplinary action against police officers violating the directive.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi had accused police and the national government of intimidating him and Joho for political reasons by withdrawing their security detail, claims the government denied.

Addressing the press at State House, Mombasa on Sunday, State House Spokesman, Manoah Esipisu, said the move was part of the local security’s command to restructure security in the area.

Police Headquarters has, however, not communicated whether the Governors will be allowed to use police chase cars after Police Commanders were ordered not to allocate police chase cars to Governors.

If Joho’s claims are true, it remains unclear why he drove himself to Nairobi, even after government reinstated his security team.